Six McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles and more than 60 U.S. airmen from RAF Lakenheath, England, were en route Thursday to Lithuania to bolster NATO’s air policing mission over the Baltics region amid the crisis in nearby Ukraine.

The Associated Press later reported that the fighter jets had arrived at Siauliai air base, Lithuania.

U.S. Air Force officials with the 48th Fighter Wing at Lakenheath, and at U.S. Air Forces in Europe headquarters at Ramstein Air Base said Thursday morning that the additional fighter jets and military personnel were on their way to Siauliai. The Pentagon announced late Wednesday that the U.S. military planned to augment its current Baltics air policing mission.

For the complete story by Jennifer H. Svan and Adam L. Mathis of Stars and Stripes, click here.